How to remove wood stains from carpet

Out of all types of stains that you would never want your precious carpets to get, wood stains are probably the first ones on top of your list. Aside from being nasty and easily visible, it can be excruciating to get rid of these stains. This is why more and more people are interested in knowing the proper steps on how to remove wood stains from carpet.

A wood stain is a combination of oils and dyes found in products. As the result of this potent combination of chemicals, the constituents of wood stains can endure even the most potent forms of carpet cleaners.

How to remove wood stains from carpet

But, all hope is not lost yet.

Although more significant and more severe stains may already be unfortunately hopeless, you can still eliminate smaller and minor wood stains using several simple remedies you can easily find in the comforts of your home.

It doesn’t matter if you simply have wood interior walls or you have a log home. You might still end up dealing with several stains on your precious carpets every time you treat the wood. If you don’t take care of these stains immediately and properly, these may result in lasting and permanent damages to your carpet. There are even some instances when you might find yourself needing to have your carpet wholly replaced with a new one.

To ensure that this won’t happen, it is vital that you clean up spills way before they turn into a big, serious, and permanent issue.

Preparation

Before removing wood stain from carpet, it is best to start by examining the effect of the detergent on your carpet. Apply a drop of the detergent on a not noticeable part of your carpet to determine if there will be fading or discoloration that will occur. 

If your carpets come with particular instructions that you should only dry clean them, make sure you avoid using other cleaning solutions. It is best to take your carpets to an expert cleaner and inform them of the exact part that you want them to clean.

In the case of fabrics that are exclusively meant for dry cleaning, the situation will only get worse if you try to clean the carpets yourself at home.

You should avoid putting wood-stained carpets in your dryer since this will just make the stains permanent. You might not notice or see the stain when the carpets are still wet but once they dry, you will only end up with stains that can no longer be removed even by professional carpet cleaners.

Materials you need to get dried wood stain out of carpet

To get started, spread your carpet first in a place with lots of space where you can work comfortably. The following are the supplies you need for removing wood stains from your carpet:

  1. Clean paper towel or cloth
  2. Vacuum
  3. Washing machine
  4. Household ammonia
  5. Hydrogen peroxide
  6. Liquid dishwashing soap
  7. Eyedropper 

How to get wood stain out of carpet

Since you will be using hydrogen peroxide, there are several necessary precautions you need to take. Don’t forget to wear your gloves and make sure that you will be working in an area with proper ventilation. If you want to work inside, keep the windows open to regulate good airflow inside the area.

  1. Blot the stain. 

Use a piece of clean paper towel or cloth for blotting the stained spot first. This will work best on new stains because paper towels can soak up the majority of the moisture. Move to another spot once the other spot of the towel gets stained. Avoid rubbing the same spot with the same side since this will lead to a bigger and more serious mess.

  1. Use a cleaning solution.

Mix 1/3 cup of ammonia and ½ teaspoon of liquid dishwashing soap in lukewarm water in a small bucket. Wet a sponge in the solution then uses it for blotting the wood stain on your carpet. Work from the outer edge first and remove the stain going to the center little by little. Doing so will ensure that the stain will not spread or diffuse to other nearby spots.

If your carpet with neutral tone color has a stubborn stain, you can mix four tablespoons of warm water with one tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide. The eyedropper can be used for applying the mixture to the surface of the carpet that has the stain.

Allow the mixture to sit for 30 minutes and blot it using paper towels. Remember that you should never use hydrogen peroxide on the darker colors because this is a type of bleaching agent. Use a new cloth or paper towel to change the stained ones until there is no longer any color transfer.

  1. Rinse. 

Grab another piece of clean cloth then use it for rinsing the carpet. See to it that you have gotten rid of all the detergent residues from your carpet. Always get new paper towels to remove any residue of moisture that your cleaning solution has left behind. 

  1. Vacuum.

Finally, use your stick or upright vacuum to lift the carpet fibers then allow your carpet to air dry. Avoid putting this under the direct light of the sun when drying it.

Important Warnings and Tips to Remember

  • Always wear gloves when you work with ammonia. Avoid mixing this with chlorine since this combination may produce toxic fumes.
  • Remember to clean your stained carpets outdoors or in a place with enough ventilation. Make sure you wear your mask if you feel wheezy because of the fumes. 
  • The darker colored carpets may get damaged and discolored if you use hydrogen peroxide for cleaning them.
  • Don’t forget to perform a spot test prior to applying the cleaning solution on the entire carpet.
  • The cloth or paper towel should be rubbed in circular motion for breaking up all wood stains.
  • Buy a commercial carpet stain remover in case you have skin sensitivities or you have an allergy to household ammonia.

Wood stains that come from your furniture may seep into carpet fibers after some time. While this can be annoying, the good news is that you can still remove them. Learning how to remove wood stains from the carpet can help you ensure that this will last for a long time.

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